Editing Foundation degree (section)

==Status==
Foundation degrees are not general degrees but are focused on specific professions. There are no generally-set entry conditions: commercial or industrial experience may be more important in gaining a place than formal qualifications, and experience is always taken into account.<ref name=UCAS>{{cite web|url=http://fd.ucas.com/FoundationDegree/About.aspx|title=About Foundation Degrees?|date=10 October 2014|publisher=[[UCAS]]|access-date=20 January 2016}}</ref>  They are intended to give comprehensive knowledge in a subject to enable the holder to go on to employment or further study in that field. They are normally offered by [[universities]] and [[further education colleges]] working in partnership.<ref name=Prospects>{{cite web|url=http://www.prospects.ac.uk/your_foundation_degree_what_next_degrees.htm|title=Options with your foundation degree|publisher=Prospects|date=June 2016|access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> They are also offered by some companies (in partnership with an awarding body) as training for employees, e.g. [[McDonald's]] in partnership with [[Manchester Metropolitan University]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/whatmakesmcdonalds/questions/work-with-us/qualifications/what-does-a-mcdonalds-foundation-degree-involve.html|title=What does a McDonald's Foundation Degree involve?|access-date=26 January 2016|publisher=McDonald's|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315083632/http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/whatmakesmcdonalds/questions/work-with-us/qualifications/what-does-a-mcdonalds-foundation-degree-involve.html|archive-date=15 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Foundation degrees are at Level 5 in the [[National qualifications frameworks in the United Kingdom#Higher education qualifications|Framework for Higher Education Qualifications]], below [[bachelor's degree]]s at level 6.<ref name=Prospects/> Courses are typically two years full-time study or longer part-time, and it is often possible to 'top up' to a bachelor's degree with a further year of study.<ref name=UCAS/> They are at the same level as the older [[Higher National Diploma]] (HND) and [[Diploma of Higher Education]] (DipHE);<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels|title=What qualification levels mean|website=Gov.uk |access-date=20 January 2016}}</ref> however, they have a different emphasis and can only be awarded by institutions that have received research, taught or foundation degree awarding powers from the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]].<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/daput|publisher=[[Quality Assurance Agency]]|title=Degree awarding powers and university title|access-date=20 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601000235/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/daput|archive-date=1 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to figures from the [[Higher Education Statistics Agency]], over half of foundation degree graduates are in further study six months after graduating, many presumably 'topping up' to a bachelor's degree, and more than 60% are in employment (there is an overlap of slightly over 20% who are both working and studying). Less than 2.5% of foundation degree holders are unemployed six months after graduating.<ref name=Prospects/>

Further education colleges who wish to award their own foundation degrees must apply to the [[Office for Students]] for degree awarding powers.<ref>Office for Students, [https://web.archive.org/web/20211026074137/https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/regulation/degree-awarding-powers-and-university-title/degree-awarding-powers/ Degree awarding powers and university title], updated 15 May 2020, accessed 18 July 2020</ref>